Iga Swiatek says she cried when she heard about Ash Barty’s retirement

Iga Swiatek has described becoming world number one as a ‘huge moment’ but says she cried after finding out Ashleigh Barty had retired.

The 20-year-old, who officially became the world’s top-ranked player on Monday, is the 28th player to hold the number one ranking in the Open Era and the first-ever Polish player, male or female, to do so. 

The former French Open champion marked the achievement in style by winning the Miami Open on Saturday –– beating former world number one Naomi Osaka in straight sets.

There is no other player who has more match victories than Swiatek in 2022 and certainly none more deserving of replacing Barty at the top of the rankings. 

By triumphing in Miami, Swiatek extended her winning streak to 17 matches and she has now won three tournaments in succession, having also won at the Qatar Open and at Indian Wells. 

All three tournaments are classed as WTA 1000 events –– considered the most prestigious below the four majors. 

By claiming titles at Indian Wells and in Miami, Swiatek is just the fourth woman to win the ‘Sunshine Double’ in the same year –– alongside Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka. 

Added to this, the Pole also reached the semi-finals of this year’s Australian Open but lost to Danielle Collins in straight sets. 

Speaking to BBC Sport, Swiatek revealed she cried when she initially found out about Barty’s retirement. 

“I was crying for 40 minutes,” she said. “Mainly, it was because of Ash’s retirement. I didn’t know it was going to happen and it really surprised me.

“I always had this vision that we would all play until we are 35 or something [or] until our bodies are so tired that we can’t anymore.

“I needed time to actually understand what she must have thought. Her